October 1, 2021: [Source CTV News] The Simcoe County District School Board has decided it will not participate in the OFSAA championships this fall.

"To ensure the continued well-being of our student-athletes, staff and coaches, the fall athletic season will conclude at the Georgian Bay School Athletics Association (GBSAA) championship level," the board stated on Friday.  The board said students would be confined to completing within the region to mitigate provincial travel.

"Our teams will have the opportunity to compete against schools from other areas of Simcoe County and Muskoka while remaining within the confines of the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit," it continued.

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Sorry, Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB) but your decision to remove the OFSAA Championships this fall is a RIDICULOUS decision on your part.

How many science and medical articles did we read over the past year from the #SMDHU and various health specialists across the country about the importance of how youth sports and athletics SUPPORT their mental health especially during the pandemic!!??  These students have lost so much of their social and athletic interaction over the past year, why would you take competitive athletics away from them with such a knee-jerk decision!??

The majority of secondary school youth competing at these age levels are already double-vaxxed, and many of these sports are held outdoors (golf, soccer, tennis, track and field, football etc).  YES, we know that #COVID19 is an airborne virus, however the risks to youth participating in these competitive outdoor sports (with proper public health rules already in place) is MINIMAL, regardless of the region!!!

Please sign this petition to #BringBackOFSAA Championships to Simcoe County District School Board students!  THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!